247 
WOODCOCK SINGING-GROUND COUNTS IN EASTERN CANADA 1950 
nae ey ge, 
Victor E. F. Solman 
‘Woodcock singing-ground counts have been conducted in eastern Canada for 
several years between the dates of April 15-20 and May 15-20. During 1950 such 
counts were made in areas in Ontario, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and 
Nova Scotia. 
The counts were made by reliable observers, including officers of the 
Canadian Wildlife Service, the Wildlife Management Institute, members of the Royal 
Canadian Mounted Police, officers of Provincial Game Departments, and interested 
private citizens who cooperated on a voluntary basis. 
Ontario 
A marked increase in woodcock numbers was recorded in the Ottawa and 
Kingston areas, while little change was noted in the Toronto and Manitoulin Island 
areas. The 1950 total number of singing males recorded was 88, compared with 81 
in 1949 and a several-year average of 85 for the areas concerned. The cool, back- 
ward spring apparently had no detrimental effect on woodcock numbers. 
Nova Scotia 
An unusual snowstorm began in Nova Scotia on April 7, 1950, and continued 
intermittently for about a week. This was without parallel in the memory of the oldest 
residents. Woodcock suffered considerable losses, Dead birds and others too weak to 
fly were found in several areas after the storm. The number of singing male birds 
recorded was 46, as compared with 65 in 1949 with a 10-year average of 47 for the 3 
areas concerned. 
New Brunswick 
The unusual snowstorm referred to in the Nova Scotia report also affected 
conditions over much of New Brunswick and caused some distress among the woodcock 
population. The total number of singing male birds recorded in 1950 was 109, as 
compared with 195 in 1949 with an average for several years of 126. 
Prince Edward Island 
The unusual Easter snowstorm reported in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick 
also affected Prince Edward Island. The total number of singing male woodcock 
reported in 1950 was 44, in contrast to 52 in 1949 and a 10-year average of 48. 
The following table provides data on numbers of singing male woodcock 
recorded on the check areas in the four Provinces, 
